Protests against new anti-democratic laws in Ukraine are increasing in intensity, with four citizens reported dead. As you can see in these extraordinary images by Ilya Varlamov, the demonstrators are using rockets made with fireworks. They look like scenes from some science-fiction movie about urban warfare.

The latest reports talk about at least four people killed and hundreds injured by the police. After the massive protests against the government's rejection against the European Union in favor of an alliance with the former Russian oppressors, Kiev officials announced new repressive laws limiting the people's right to protest. These urban battles are the people's reaction to those laws.

Ukraine was a former Soviet Republic, created after a civil war between pro-communist and the Ukrainian People's Republic armies at the beginning of the 20th century, right after the fall of the Russian Empire. The communists won, and the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic was established. In theory, it was an independent state, but in fact—like all republics in the USSR and satellite countries—it was under a tight control by the Kremlin.

I know Cosmo won't die from colon cancer even with Obamacare. His head is so far up there that he'll surely catch it early.

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"Not reading the books doesn't mean I can't discuss them" - KC Native 3/14/14
”Marriage has historic, religious and moral content that goes back to the beginning of time, and I think a marriage is as a marriage has always been, between a man and a woman.”- Hillary Clinton 2000

I wonder how many people are really beginning to see something in our near future that none of us want. Seems no one wants to "go there". Is it just the people i talk to ? Im not talking a small group or a small area. Sure seems a lot of folks are on edge. Civil unrest is a new thing to millenials but the boomers have seen this once before.

You have to consider that we really are a big country with lots of different living situations. All the way from ridiculously hi-pop areas like NY/NJ to wide open spaces with few people out West. You are going to find people who will never see the cops/military as the enemy, and others who actually have local police more on their side than not.

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"As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn't leave my bitterness and hatred behind I'd still be in prison."

So we have Juan McCain taking trips to Kiev to meet with opposition. We have a diplomat caught on tape discussing "who we want in there". Once again for the 95 millionth time: Does anyone still wonder why the world hates us!

When, oh when, will we stop meddling ?

__________________"My glutes are shutting off. So I tried to activate my glutes as best I could in between, but they never stayed activated." - Tiger Woods 2/5/15

So we have Juan McCain taking trips to Kiev to meet with opposition. We have a diplomat caught on tape discussing "who we want in there". Once again for the 95 millionth time: Does anyone still wonder why the world hates us!

When, oh when, will we stop meddling ?

I don't have a problem with either of those things.

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"As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn't leave my bitterness and hatred behind I'd still be in prison."

Um....right. That's because you're an American and you think this type of behavior is acceptable. The rest of the entire globe doesn't and they're beyond sick of our actions. They want us to stop meddling....even if you don't.

I can't even imagine a Russian member of their government coming to America to meet with political figures. Or their diplomat discussing who Moscow wants in power here. You'd be outraged.

__________________"My glutes are shutting off. So I tried to activate my glutes as best I could in between, but they never stayed activated." - Tiger Woods 2/5/15